Avatar the Last Airbender

Netflix has come out with their live action Avatar the Last Airbender. Prior to it's release the creative team did a lot of talking that they probably should not have done as all they managed to accomplish was ignite a hatred for them among their built in audience. The 8 episode first season is going to attempt to cover the entire first book of the series. Now they might actually accomplish this as they seem to have gutted all the heart, character development and joy from the show. That said, in order for this show to make sense there are some non-negotiable points that they are going to have to hit. So while going through my first season rewatch of the animated series I am going to point out the fixed points that have to happen in the live action.

Finding Aang

Now this one is really obvious, but the kid does in fact HAVE to be trapped in an iceberg. And if anyone besides Katara finds him I am going to be rather pissed off. The way Katara and Sokka find him in the animated series is so well done and it progresses the story and all three of their characters in a very short amount of time. Any other way of doing this scene is just going to be wrong.

Zuko Hunting the Avatar

This also seems obvious but at this rate the new team is gonna make Zuko and Aang best friends after their first meeting. So much of seasons 1 & 2 are Zuko hunting Aang. It's also the catalyst of Zuko’s character development and I just refuse to believe that they are going to gut that too.

Warriors of Kyoshi

I swear to Mary, Jesus and the Camel if they screw up the Warriors of Kyoshi I will dedicate my life to making sure that this creative team never works again. Not only are they as a whole, and Suki individually super important to the plot, the Gaang and their character development. But it's some of the best fighting and best female representation that has ever been on screen. In a world of benders these women are just exceptional warriors and this is absolutely necessary to the plot.

The Northern Water Tribe

Look I know it seems like I may have skipped a bunch of very necessary plot points, and I have. But I am also trying to be realistic about this new live action. So when our kids reach the northern water tribe the master MUST refuse to teach Katara because she’s a girl and she MUST change his mind. This is literally one of the plot points that make this series so good. Katara repeatedly overcoming sexism is a necessary part of the plot and her character development and I will not stand for anything else.

Clearly everything in the animated series is necessary. It is, there is not a single flaw with the animated series that needs to be changed. However Netflix is attempting to condense 20 episodes into 8 so there will be some things that they are going to fuck up and unfortunately as the audience we need to be okay with that. These are just the points I think are unforgivable if changed. Now, this is an adaptation from something that already exists in a visual medium, not a book, not a comic. Which means that there are no “necessary” changes. There is not a single thing that the Netflix team could dream up that will enhance this story. Their best bet has always been to just adapt it as is. But the original creators left and we know that isn’t going to happen so stay tuned. Because I am forcing myself to watch it.